The Inside Job – Part 4

Arnab was parked outside the bank, wondering how everything could have gone wrong so quickly. He went over that terrible day again in his mind — the day his life was forever changed.

He had been pulled over for speeding. He said something to the cop—he still couldn’t remember exactly what it was—and the next thing he knew his car was being searched. He had just scored an eight ball from one of the guys that hung out near the salt lake stadium, and the cop found it. He occasionally used cocaine to help him study when exhaustion set in late in the evening, and this score had been enough to last for several weeks. Unfortunately, possession of more than two grams of cocaine was a crime. Because of his spotless record he got off with only probation, but his life had been changed irreversibly. He was asked to leave Stephens and lost all of his financial aid. He had to move to a sleazy studio apartment in a run down section of town, and Debopriya ended their relationship soon afterward. He was entirely alone, and struggling just to make ends meet.

He got out of his car and went into the bank. He stood in line with the rest of the customers, until it was his turn to speak with the teller.

He focused on her, picturing her aorta—the thick, main artery that carries blood from the heart. Then he visualized it torn into two pieces, and she fell to the ground, screaming. He could already see her abdomen beginning to swell with trapped blood.

The other two tellers ran to her assistance. He concentrated on the first one, tearing holes in the pleura that lined each lung. He disabled the second in a similar fashion. Then he simply walked through the swinging door that led to the area behind the counter and took the money from each teller’s drawer. None of the other customers tried to stop him—they were too busy trying to help those who had mysteriously become incapacitated.

Back at his apartment he counted the money. Enough for a few months at most, but then he’d need more. He didn’t think that would present much of a challenge.

He was momentarily struck with a vague sense of guilt, but it passed quickly. After destroying his life, society owed him something in return. He deserved justice, and he planned to get it—whatever it took.